Miller column: Pirates' Thompkins off to solid start

Swansboro High football standout De’Andre Thompkins is a multi-talented player and his athleticism is a reason the senior committed to Penn State.

Chris Miller/The Daily News-Prep Sports Writer

Swansboro High football standout De’Andre Thompkins is a multi-talented player and his athleticism is a reason the senior committed to Penn State.

But there’s a difference between being good and being good when not only your team expects it but also when opposing teams focus specifically on trying to stop you.

Some players will wilt when the spotlight and expectations are on them.

That’s hasn’t been an issue for the speedy Thompkins, The Daily News football player of the week.

He’s still proving to be difficult to stop and a key for the Pirates (2-0), who play host to Bertie (1-0) tonight.

Need evidence?

While Thompkins’ numbers don’t rank him among the top in the area two games into the season, he’s been dangerous all-around, from running with the ball to catching it and returning kicks.

Against Ashley (1-1), he only had 22 yards rushing on three carries, but he caught three passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns – 12 and 23 yards. Thompkins also returned two kickoffs for 110 yards, one being a 79-yarder that gave the Pirates a 19-6 third-quarter lead.

Thompkins was an all-state kick returner last year.

“De’Andre is a game-changer,” coach Tim Laspada said. “When he gets to the open field, it’s tough to tackle him.”

Thompkins’ effort against Ashley came one week after he ran the ball three times for 55 yards and two touchdowns and had three receptions for 80 yards and another score.

Not a bad way for the future Nittany Lion to start the season.

“For the first two games of the season I’ve kind of wanted to perfect my positions,” said Thompkins, who will play wide receiver in college. “We already had a new offense before I made my commitment and we decided I would play receiver. It just happened that I ended up being something that Penn State wanted at wide receiver.”

Laspada said that Thompkins worked hard, not just to improve his pass catching abilities and route running, but to emerge as an overall better football player.

“He worked harder in the weight room and he stays after practice to do things to get better,” the coach said. “You can tell that extra work in the weight room has helped him break tackles.”

Apparently that hard work has paid off for Thompkins. He’s off to a solid start to the season, and so are the Pirates.

Now for the panel

The Daily News sports page designer Mike Boaz went 8-0 last week to remain in first place in The Daily News high school football forecasting panel at 12-3.